Suicide in the Ancient World

[track2004]

Today in my Roman Culture class my professor was discussing Cato the Younger (or Cato Uticensis) and mentioned that he, after a good life had committed suicide in Egypt. From what my professor had said it sounded as if Cato was a stand up guy, a person worthy of respect at any rate. Socrates also (though this is debatable) committed suicide after leading a good life. There are countless other stories from ancient times that end in the suicide of the protagonist. So, in parts of the ancient world (Rome was one of these parts), suicide was seen as a noble end to one's life rather than facing disgrace or death at another's hands. It was not seen as it is now, as selfish and of grave moral danger. This being said, did the ancients who committed suicide under these pretexts have an uninformed conscience? Would the act then not be considered a mortal sin?

I was just wondering because it seems so inappropiate that these men and women who led honorable and pious lives and who considered themselves to die an honorable death to be punished for it. So I am wondering what other views are. Pax.

[AngelofJesus]

" 12For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
13for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
14For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus." Romans 2:12-16


"It is therefore an error to judge the morality of human acts by considering only the intention that inspires them or the circumstances (environment, social pressure, duress or emergency, etc.) which supply their context. There are acts which, in and of themselves, independently of circumstances and intentions, are always gravely illicit by reason of their object; such as blasphemy and perjury, murder and adultery. One may not do evil so that good may result from it." CCC 1756

IMHO, either way their acts are intrinsically evil, regardless of what ends they were trying to accomplish. On the other hand, it is not for us to decide what type of punishment they should receive. Only one Judge, no jury needed.

[Socrates]

[quote name='track2004' date='Feb 21 2005, 12:41 PM'] Socrates also (though this is debatable) committed suicide after leading a good life. [/quote]
The reports of my demise are greatly exagerrated! In fact, I am still alive and well!

[AngelofJesus]

[quote name='Socrates' date='Feb 22 2005, 01:04 PM'] The reports of my demise are greatly exagerrated! In fact, I am still alive and well! [/quote]
It's the tabloids that reported your demise. It did not even make the front page though. I think it was in the sports section beside the Kobe single handedly wins championship story.